glycolysis
noun
gly·col·y·sis
glī-ˈkä-lə-səs 
: the enzymatic breakdown of a carbohydrate (such as glucose) by way of phosphate derivatives with the production of pyruvic or lactic acid and energy stored in high-energy phosphate bonds of ATP
Examples of glycolysis in a Sentence
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Energy production: Magnesium is required for glycolysis and energy production (glycolysis is the pathway in which energy is formed from the breakdown of glucose)
Glucose control: Magnesium is needed for the enzymatic reactions that work to manage glucose levels.
—
Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025
That shift activates glycolysis—a process that improves glucose utilization and lowers blood glucose levels.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Emory researchers were already conducting a clinical trial of atomoxetine as an Alzheimer’s treatment, so the protein researchers piggybacked on the trial to test whether the drug would impact glycolysis dysfunction.
—Rohan Rajeev, STAT, 28 June 2024
Tumor cells, in contrast, often use far more inefficient glycolysis, which foregoes oxygen and instead uses additional glucose to yield lesser amounts of ATP.
—David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 1 July 2024
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Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025
That shift activates glycolysis—a process that improves glucose utilization and lowers blood glucose levels.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Emory researchers were already conducting a clinical trial of atomoxetine as an Alzheimer’s treatment, so the protein researchers piggybacked on the trial to test whether the drug would impact glycolysis dysfunction.
—Rohan Rajeev, STAT, 28 June 2024
Tumor cells, in contrast, often use far more inefficient glycolysis, which foregoes oxygen and instead uses additional glucose to yield lesser amounts of ATP.
—David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 1 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for glycolysis
Cite this Entry
“Glycolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glycolysis. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
glycolysis
noun
gly·col·y·sis
glī-ˈkäl-ə-səs
plural glycolyses
-ˌsēz
: the enzymatic breakdown of a carbohydrate (as glucose or glycogen) by way of phosphate derivatives with the production of pyruvic or lactic acid and energy stored in high-energy phosphate bonds of ATP
called also Embden-Meyerhof pathway
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